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Someone Missed the Lesson of the 'Prodigal Son' Story
DEAR MISS MANNERS: I have a niece, Maya, who has been estranged from the family since her teens. After five years, she’s now returned, wanting to be near family. We are trying to get to know her again... more
Nosy Questions About Rings Now Go Beyond Gem Size
DEAR MISS MANNERS: I’m engaged and have a larger-than-average diamond. There have been several awkward encounters where people want to know the specs of my stone: In particular, they ask, “Is it a lab... more
Anxious Diners Want Their Orders Written Down
DEAR MISS MANNERS: I have noticed that many restaurant servers take orders without writing them down. This includes orders with several exceptions, such as “no cheese, dressing on the side, veggies in... more
'Good Eaters' Turn Picky at Nana's House
DEAR MISS MANNERS: I have two amazing girls who are 4 years old and 18 months old. For the most part, they are really good eaters for me when we’re at home or at restaurants.... more
How Long Do I Have To Keep Waving?
DEAR MISS MANNERS: When is it OK to consider a “goodbye” finished? When does a goodbye have to be followed by waving, and for how long?... more
Oh, Good: Another Theater Rule
DEAR MISS MANNERS: Manners among theatergoers have been neglected, such that probably most offenders do not even know they are being inconsiderate.... more
'Bionic' Nickname Doesn't Amuse
DEAR MISS MANNERS: How do I respond when people call me "the Bionic Woman"?... more
Private School Wants Neighbors' Money
DEAR MISS MANNERS: There is a private, parochial school near where I live. The tuition is expensive, and the school has a reputation for being an elitist club.... more
The Curse of Having 'One of Those Faces'
DEAR MISS MANNERS: I have “one of those faces,” the kind where people confuse me for someone else all the time. It’s easy enough to be polite when someone thinks they saw me at karaoke last night, whe... more
My Friends Laughed When I Told Them I Fell
DEAR MISS MANNERS: I suffered a fall at a social gathering. I got hurt pretty badly and ended up with large scrapes and bruises for over a week. I’m lucky I did not break a bone, but I was pretty shak... more
Dramatic Changes in Appearance: Best Not To Pry
DEAR MISS MANNERS: I’m a 63-year-old man who previously weighed considerably more than I do now. I currently appear to be very healthy, and look the best I have in at least 30 years.... more
Wife Will Never Hear the End of Tuxedo Complaints
DEAR MISS MANNERS: I received an invitation to the wedding of a colleague’s child. Every piece of correspondence noted, “This is a black-tie affair. Please dress accordingly.”... more
Guests Keep Dropping Hair on My Carpet
DEAR MISS MANNERS: Some of my (grown-up) family members will pluck loose hairs off their shoulders and clothes, then drop them onto my carpet, without even trying to hide it!... more
Gratitude for Parents Will Be Expressed on Child's Schedule
DEAR MISS MANNERS: I was wondering if my daughter should have sent thank-you cards to my wife and myself when she graduated from college.... more
Let's Play 'Was This a Present?'
DEAR MISS MANNERS: I was raised right and know my forks and honorifics, but it seems some rules may have changed. I find myself frequently unsure whether something is a gift, in which case I’d simply ... more
'Daaaad, Stop Hitting on the Waitress!'
DEAR MISS MANNERS: I’m a 23-year-old lady with a 54-year-old father. At restaurants, he often makes comments to the waitresses, asking them if they’re married or have a significant other. It terribly ... more
Inconsiderate Shopper Escalates to Rudeness
DEAR MISS MANNERS: My husband was at the grocery store yesterday and a woman was blocking the aisle, bending over to look at an item on the shelf. A male shopper in front of my husband asked her to pl... more
It's Come to This: Gift Registries for 7-Year-Olds
DEAR MISS MANNERS: Gifts used to be something one put thought into. Unlike some of your readers, I don’t mind wedding registries. I treat them as guides, not demands, and don’t feel constrained to pur... more
Once Again: Whoever Asks, Pays
DEAR MISS MANNERS: My son was invited to a high school dance by a young lady from another school. When he arrived to take group pictures, he was told he had to pony up for the limo and for his share o... more
Husband Should Teach Kids To Celebrate Their Mom
DEAR MISS MANNERS: Yet another Mother’s Day and birthday have come and gone with no gift from my husband. What’s worse, to me, is that he has done nothing to show our two little boys how to acknowledg... more
Gag Gift Falls Flat
DEAR MISS MANNERS: While my best friend and her partner do not believe in traditional marriage, they went to city hall following the birth of their child to ensure the family enjoyed the associated le... more
Longtime Friends Lose Minds Over Canceled Dinner Plans
DEAR MISS MANNERS: We were scheduled to have dinner with two friends at the tail end of a fun week -- several days of entertainments, parties, drinking and late nights. When the day of our dinner date... more
Let 'Mistaken' Be Office-Speak for 'Lying Liar Who Lies'
DEAR MISS MANNERS: I have a co-worker who consistently spreads misinformation in order to get out of doing her job. She often makes up policies that don’t exist to try to trick other departments into ... more
Host Doesn't Want To ... Well, Host
DEAR MISS MANNERS: I enjoy cooking and setting a nice table, and my spouse and I often invite several couples over for dinner. After the meal, I have come upon a problem: I don’t feel right clearing t... more
Keep Feedback Vague If Asked About Relative's Book
DEAR MISS MANNERS: A family member has self-published a memoir of their life as an e-book. Although we are not close and live in different cities, we do enjoy chatting and catching up by phone from ti... more
Courteous Airline Passengers? What Next?
DEAR MISS MANNERS: I am privileged to receive free air travel benefits from my husband’s job as an airline pilot. My family flies on standby status, so we are usually among the last passengers to boar... more
Judge Not Others' Typos, Lest Ye Be Judged
DEAR MISS MANNERS: I am a journalist. The other day, I noticed a typo in an online headline from another outlet, so I called around to see if I could notify them. I was unsuccessful.... more
Dinner and a Show
DEAR MISS MANNERS: My friend and I had tickets for a show, and we thought we had allowed enough time beforehand -- nearly two hours -- to eat dinner at one of the casual restaurants near the theater. ... more
College Dorm Odd Couple
DEAR MISS MANNERS: I am a college student, and my roommate and I have majorly conflicting sleeping habits.... more
Woman Dares Wear Skirt on Golf Course
DEAR MISS MANNERS: We live in a 55+ community on a golf course. One woman, who is very heavy, always wears a knee-high or above-the-knee skirt when golfing. She is actually the only woman here who doe... more